As it is every year, the first day of the 2010 IAAPA Attractions Expo was a whirlwind of activity and excitement. During the kick-off ceremony, Dollywood was awarded the prestigious Applause Award, and on hand to accept the award was Dolly Parton herself. Coincidentally, Dollywood is the host of the 2012 ACE Coaster Con.

2010 inductees to IAAPA's Hall of Fame included the late Will Koch of Holiday World. The announcement received a standing ovation. There wasn't a dry eye in the house as Holiday World matriarch Pat Koch and Will's entire family took to the stage to accept the honor.

At ACE's booth near the center of the convention floor's action, it was a Who's Who of notable industry folk. Stopping by to speak with ACE were Dick and Rick Knoebel, Tom Rebbie of PTCI, Jerome Gibas of Kennywood, Rick Davis of DAFE, David Mandt of IAAPA, Ken Cormier and Ed Hodgdon of Funtown Splashtown USA, and representatives from Six Flags New England, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Helm and Sons Amusements Inc. (who are looking to sell a Herschell Little Dipper).

ACEers manning the booth were thrilled when Bernard and Leonard Adams III of Structural Technologies Inc. stopped by to talk. These are the guys responsible for bringing Conneaut Lake Park's Blue Streak back to life. The ACE delegates at the booth thanked the Adams brothers for their remarkable perseverance and, in return, ACE was thanked for its support of the project.

Be sure to check out ACE's national Facebook page for additional updates from IAAPA and more updates on ACE News Now throughout the week as well.